Dr. Keven Elder is running for re-election as a North Saanich candidate for the School District 63 Board of Education.  School District 63 Saanich has 18 schools that serve communities from Royal Oak to Swartz Bay. Keven and his family have lived on the Saanich peninsula for all but five of the past 46 years, including the past 15 years in North Saanich/Sidney.  He is pleased to acknowledge with respect that he is seeking office as a visitor on the traditional territories of the W’SANEC First Nation.

Keven was first elected in 2022 and is proud of his connections to the North Saanich schools and communities over the past four years.  His work on the Board has included:

• Serving as Chair of the Board’s Finance, Facilities and Technology Committee, working as the Board’s governance lead for all matters to do with budget planning and oversight, as well as all matters to do with facilities and technology planning.
• Serving as Chair of the Board’s multi-partner Budget Advisory Committee.
• Representing the Board as co-liaison to North Saanich Council.
• Meeting regularly with student leadership groups in middle and secondary schools through the Student Voice program.
• Serving as a Board representative on the Local Education Agreement committee with the W’SANEC First Nation, working on shared educational services, student outcomes and shared accountability.
• Liaising regularly with parents individually and through the district parents’ group, the Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils of Saanich.
• Liaising regularly with staff individually and through Saanich Teachers Association, CUPE 441 and the Saanich Administrators Association.

Through all these engagements, Keven keeps front and centre the well-being of all students, their families, and the community at large.  He lives the belief that public education is truly the foundation for a healthy and prosperous society. 

Keven also believes in the sanctity of family. He and his wife of 47 years have called the Saanich peninsula home for most of their lives, as they do today. They raised their three daughters on the peninsula. Their daughters attended School District 63 schools and were active in leadership, sports, theatre and community service. Keven and his wife now delight in spending time with their four grandchildren, two of whom are in Saanich schools, with one joining them soon. 

Keven comes from a background of 41 years of teaching and leadership experience, including 15 years as a Superintendent of Schools/CEO, with 12 of those in School District 63 Saanich. He has extensive qualifications and is an expert in effective governance and leadership practices.  In addition to having been on the Board of Education, Keven previously served as a member of the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board where he was governance committee chair. Keven has a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and Master’s and Doctorate Degrees in Educational Leadership. 

See the links on this page to look at Keven as a Trustee candidate and to learn more about his background and experiences.

Email: keven@kevenelder.ca

Phone: 1-250-415-2546

Website: http://www.kevenelder.ca